Characteristics of Life

Characteristics of Life
All living things share some
basic properties
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Cells
Organization
Energy Use
Homeostasis
Growth and Development
Reproduction
Cells
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Basic unit of life
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Human skin
Carry out the functions of life
All organisms have 1 or more cells.
Plant leaf
Bacteria
Cells
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Unicellular organisms
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Made of 1 cell
Each cell has everything necessary for
life
Include bacteria and protists
Cells
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Multicellular Organisms
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Made up of many cells
Cells have specialized functions within
the organism
Organization
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Living things are much more complex
than anything non-living.
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More complex molecules, structures organized
into groups.
Non-living:
composed of atoms
and/or molecules
Living: macromolecules,
organelles, cells
Protein
Cell with many organelles
Other levels of Organization
TISSUE
ORGAN
ORGAN-SYSTEM
Energy Use
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Living things need energy to grow,
develop, repair damage, and
reproduce
Known as metabolism
Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs
Autotrophs, like
plants, can make
their own food using
the sun’s energy and
Earth’s inorganic
molecules.
Heterotrophs, like the bird that
eats fish, consume other organisms.
Homeostasis
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Maintain stable internal conditions.
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Response to the environment.
Includes body temperature, blood volume,
removal of waste, pH balance, and water
balance
Growth and Development
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Growth
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Cells divide to
make more cells
and the organism
gets bigger
Growth and Development
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Development
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Cells take on specific roles (differentiation).
Physiological change or change in form may
occur.
Reproduction
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Pass genetic information (DNA)
along to produce more members
of a species.
Reproduction
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Asexual reproduction
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A single organism reproduces by
itself
Reproduction
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Sexual Reproduction
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2 different parent organisms contribute
genetic information to an offspring